Convertible tool.



No. 699,941. Patented May l3, I902.

G. S. A'MSUEN.

CUNVEBTIBLE TOOL.

(Application filed Feb. 13, 1902.)

mi Model.)

-7IIIIIIA3II UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES s. AMSDEN, on GREENWICI-I, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONVERTIBLE TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming art of Letters men. No. 699,941, dated. May :13, 1 902. Application filed February 18, 1902. suit-11m). 93,937- (No model.)

T0 00% whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. 'AMSDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Greenwich village, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Convertible Tool, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates toa convertible tool, and has for its object to provide a simple, strong, and efficient combination and arrangement of parts whereby the position of the head which carries the desired bit or bits is adapted to be adjusted in'position with rela tion to the shank member or handle to adapt the tool for performing the functions of an ax or hatchet or hammer and also the functions of a chisel, pruning-knife,or other tool,wherein the movement in operation is in a direction parallel with the length of the handle or in a direction other than a right angle to the length of the handle.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description and the novel features thereof will be particularlyepointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of-this invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a tool constructed in accordance with the invention arranged for use as a' chisel or with the cutting edge of the bit disposed transversely to the length of the handle. Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly in section, of the tool with the parts arranged'for use'as a hatchet or ax or with the cutting edge of the bit disposed approximately parallel with the length.

of the handle. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section on the plane of the tool indicated by the-line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the construction with the parts arranged in the relative positions indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail transverse section'of the handlesocket, handle, and securing device on the planeindicated by the line'5 '5 of Fig. 2. Figs. '6 and 7 are detail views, respectively, of the locking buttons or bolts.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings the tool consists of two membersnamely, a head 1 and a shank 2, the head being provided with one or more bits, according to the-functions to be performed by the device, and the shank being provided with a'handle-socket 3 for the reception of a removable handle or plug 4. In the construction illustrated the head is provided with a cutting bit or blade 5 and a poll 6, extending in opposite directions from the center of said body portion, as in the ordinary'ax or hammer, the poll'being provided with the usual notch 7, forming a claw for the primary function of extracting nails or-spikes, but having an additional function in connection with this tool, which will be explained hereinafter.

The connection between the members of the tool is such as to provide'for relative pivotal or'swinging movement thereof to adapt the cutting edge of the bit or blade to be arranged in different positions with relation to the length of the shank. Infthe construction illustrated the head is provided at a point between the extremities of the bits with an eye 8 of reduced thickness as compared with the body portion of the head, and the shank is provided with a complemental eye 9, coextensive with the eye 8 and pivotally associated therewith by means of a transverse pivot-pin 10, preferably in the form of a rivet, the headed extremities of the rivet being arranged in countersinks in the outer'surfaces of 'the eye members. The shank adjacent to and preferably in movable frictional contact with the periphery of theeyeS is provided with an overhanging shoulder 11,-which imparts trans-verse stiffness to the structure and guards against twisting or straining of the pivot-pin when the tool is in use. Correspondingly the body portion of the head is shouldered, as at'12, for contact with the periphery of the eye member 9. Thegeneral contour of each of theeyes is circular, and the periphery of the eye'Sexceeds ninety degrees in extent toprovi'de for'arranging the shank memberzin either of a plurality of positions ranging through an angle of ninety degrees. When the shank is in one of its adjusted positions, as indicated in Fig. 1, in alinement with the head and with the cutting edge of the blade at a right angle thereto, said shank fits into the notch 7 of the poll and is thereby further braced against lateral displacement. To secure the shank in either of its adjusted positions with relation to the head, the former-is provided with a half-bearing or seat 13, and the periphery of the eye 8 is provided with a plurality of corresponding half-bearings or seats 14, 15, and 16, with eitherof which the half-bearing in the shank may register. Permanently mounted in the half-bearing or seat of the shank is a rotary button or bolt 17, having a headed pivot or extension 18 mounted in a perforation in the shank, said perforation being in communication with said half-bearing or seat, and this button orbolt is halved or cut away, as shown at 19, (see Fig. 6,) whereby when the button or bolt is arranged with its cut-away portion facing the periphery of the eye 8 it is withdrawn from engagement with the seat or bearing in the head and the shank is free to turn relatively to the head. On the other hand, after registration of the half-bearing in the shank with one of those in the head the turning of the button or bolt to cause the uncut or continuous portion thereof to face the head will engage it with the seat or half-bearing in the latter, and thus will firmly lock the head at the desired adjustment with relation to the shank. When the parts are arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1, with the button or bolt in engagement with the half-bearing orseat 14 of the head and with the shank engaged with the claw of the poll, the tool is adapted for use as a chisel or other device wherein it is necessary to move the implement in a direction approximately parallel with the handle or to thrust the same. By varying the length of the plug orhandle,which is fitted in the socket 3, the chisel may be adapted for a variety of purposes. For instance, when the short plug or handle (shown in Fig. 1) is employed the devicemay be used as a chisel and the end of the plug or handle may be struck by a mallet or other implement in the operation thereof. On the other hand, by applying a long handle the tool may be used either as an ice-chisel or as a pruning implement.

To facilitate interchanging the handles to adapt the tool to perform its diiferent functions, a handle-securing device is provided, and in the construction illustrated this securing device consists of a rotary button or bolt 20, (see Fig. 7,) mounted in the socket in a manner similar to the button or plug 17 and halved or cut away, as at 21, to leave the interior of the handle socket unobstructed when said cut-away portion is arranged to face the socket, thus permitting the insertion or removal of the handle. When the button or boltis reversed in position, as indicatedin Fig. 2, its solid portion engages a notch 22in the handle and locks the latter in place. Preferably the handle-socket is tapered toward its inner end to provide for wedging the handle snugly therein; also, in order to facilitate the turning of either of the aforesaid plugs or bolts each is provided at its outer end with a wrench or tool seat, such as a screw-driver cut or kerf 23.

When the members of the tool are adjusted to occupy the relative positions indicated in Fig. 2, with the cutting edge of the blade or bit approximately parallel with the length of the handle, the device is adapted for use as a hatchet or ax, according to the proportions of the parts and the length of the handle used, and in the intermediate position when the button or bolt is engaged with the seat or half-bearing 15 the device is adapted for use as a pruning implement or as tool for trimming timber.

Preferably the opposite sides of the blade are arranged at a corresponding angle, or, in other words, the head tapers continuously toward the cutting edge to provide for either right or left hand use.

To provide for the free relative movement of the members of the tool to guard against the rusting or freezing thereof in a given relative position, it is preferred to cut away the adjacent faces of the eyes, as shown at 23, thus leaving annular rim-bearings only, at which points the disks forming the eyes come in contact. This construction also affords a broad bearing for the contacting parts and reduces the friction in the adjust ment of the parts to the minimum.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A convertible tool having pivotally-connected members consisting of a head and a shank adapted to occupy a plurality of rela-' tive positions, one of said members being provided with an eye having a contour curved concentrically with the pivot and the other member having a shoulder overlapping and bearing upon the periphery of said eye to traverse the same when the relative adjust-' ment of the parts is changed, and means for securing the members in their adjusted relative positions.

2. Aconvertible tool having pivotally-con nected members consisting of a head and a shank adapted to occupy a plurality of relative positions, said members having coaxial coextensive eyes peripherally concentric with the pivotal point of connection, and one of the members having a shoulder overlapping and bearing upon the periphery of the eye of the other member, and means for securing the members in their adjusted relative positions.

3. A convertible tool having pivotally-connected members consisting of a head and a shank, one of which is provided with an eye having a contour curved concentrically with the pivot and provided with a plurality of seats, and a locking device consisting of a 1'0- tary button or bolt mounted in the other member for engagement with either of the said seats and being notched or cut away at one side to give clearance and permit relative movement of the members.

4. A convertible tool having pivotally-connected members consisting of a head and a shank, said head having a poll, and means for securing the shank in adjusted positions with relation to the head, the shank in one of its positions being in engagement with said poll.

5. A convertible toolhaving pivotally -com nected members consisting of a head and a shank, and means for securing said members in difierent relative positions, the head being provided with a claw for engagement with the shank in one of its positions.

6. A convertible toolhaving pivotally-con-.

CHARLES S. AMSDEN.

Witnesses:

A. F. BoIsE, O. A. BoIsE. 

